THE     SONG 


OF 


HIGHER- WATER, 


BY 


JAMES    W.    WARD. 


Mus  in  gurgite  fluminis. 


ROBERT  H.  JOHNSTON  &  CO., 
NEW-YORK. 

ROBERT  CLARKE  &  CO., 

CINCINNATI. 
1868. 


O  W  E     WORD. 


THERE  is  no  offence  in  this  bit  of  trochean  verse  ;  not 
the  least  in  the  world.  That  it  is  "  after"  Hiawatha,  by 
Longfellow,  is  apparent  enough  ;  as  a  matter  of  fact,  just 
three  days  after  ;  that  length  of  time  having  intervened 
between  the  appearance  of  that  charming  and  popular 
poem,  and  the  reading  of  this  production  to  some  of  the 
author's  friends.  The  idea  of  ridiculing  or  caricaturing 
Mr.  Longfellow  is  too  inconsequent  and  unjust  an  inference 
to  require  formal  refutation.  That  gentleman  is  far  above 
the  reach  of  such  ill-natured  assaults. 

The  suggestion  propter  hoc,  the  intentional  imitation,  is 
admitted.  The  writer,  then  residing  in  Cincinnati,  the 
locality  of  the  events  related,  was  suddenly  struck  with  the 
subject,  and,  already  afloat  upon  the  rhythmical  flow  of 
the  Hiawathian  verse,  his  noughts  yielded  to  the  alluring 
current  and  took  "the  form  and  pressure"  of  the  occasion; 
so  far,  at  least,  following  Mr.  Longfellow's  happy  lead. 

Us  le  suivirenttoujours, 
Tant  qu'  il  marclia  devant. 


917345 


IV 


This  "parody"  never  had,  with  the  author's  consent,  more 
than  its  original  newspaper  circulation.  It  is  now  printed 
in  the  present  more  presentable  form,  because  some  per 
son,  from  motives,  the  rectitude  of  which  is  not  self-evi 
dent,  has  surreptitiously  published  an  imperfect  edition  of 
it,  which,  I  am  informed,  he  is  selling  for  his  own  account. 
Should  any  one  wish  to  purchase  any  copies  of  this  edition, 
they  can  be  obtained  by  addressing  the  publishers  ;  though 
it  is  chiefly  issued  for  private  distribution. 

J.  W.  W. 

NEW  YORK,  March  1,  1868. 


THE  8CXNG  OF  HIGHER- WATER 


And  they  said,  "  O,  good  lagoo 
Tell  us  now  a  tale  of  wonder ; 
Tell  vis  of  some  strange  advercuie.    , 
That  the  feast  may  be  morejoyour, 
That  the  time  may  pass  more  gaily. " 
Hiaivatha. 


In  the  town  where  swine  are  slaughtered — 
Town  or  city,  matters  little ; — 
Whose  fair  streets — at  least  'tis  thought  so 
By  the  sparkling  wits  of  Gotham- 
Shining  lights,  those  wits  of  Gotham — 
Whose  fair  streets  with  blazing  pig-tails, 
Bobbing  round  like  jack-o-lanterns, 
Are  illuminated  nightly ; 
Saving  when,  by  calculation, 
By  the  calendar  computed, 


6  THE   SONG   OF   HIGHEE-WATEE. 

'Tis  the  lawful  turn  of  moonshine— 
In  the  town— well,  call  it  city, 
Where  the  champagne  will  be  Long  worth 
Quite  as  much  as  Hock  or  Heidsick, 
And  the  fruity  pale  Catawba 
Bears  the  flar/  against  all  rivals  ; 
Where  contractors'  speculations, 
Unlike  those  of  York  or  Boston, 
Best  succeed  without  the  esses  ; — 
Where  there  are  more  men  than  women 
In  thA  .weMiijig  season  wedded  : — 
Where  no.  wind-'oags  are  inflated, — 
vWb'ere'-muscluitos,  gently  humming, 
Lull  the  ears  of  drowsy  toilers, 
Sweetly  to  their  nightly  slumbers  ;— 
Where  the  people  all  are  pious, 
And  the  hams  are  not  West  failures  ;— 

In  the  city,  standing  queenly, 

Queenly  standing,  young  and  giddy, 

On  the  banks  of  O-pe-he-le— 

O-pe-he-le,  fickle  river, 

Called  in  vulgar  tongue,  Ohio— 

Biver  never  stationary, 

Up  to-day  and  down  to-morrow  ; 

Like  the  bonds  of  tardy  railroads, 

Changing  monthly,  changing  hourly  ;— 


THE   SONG   OF   HIGHER-WATER. 

In  the  city  where  the  cut-throats, 
Flourishing  their  knives  and  cleavers, 
March,  in  fierce  procession,  yearly  ; — 
In  the  city,  by  its  sniveling, 
Snobby,  and  officious  neighbors, 
Called,  impertinently,  Sintown  ; — 
There,  O  reader,  fair  or  learned, 
There  occurred,  if  you  '11  believe  it, 
What  I  now  am  going  to  tell  you, 
What  I  now  have  come  to  tell  you. 

II. 

'Tis  a  strange  surprising  ditty, 
'Tis  a  most  uncommon  story ; 
It  will  calm  you,  it  will  soothe  you, 
It  will  charm  you  into  slumber, 
This  my  song  of  Higher-water. 
You  shall  hear  it,  you  shall  read  it, 
You  shall  listen  while  I  tell  it ; 
In  your  ears  you  shall  receive  it, 
In  your  hearts  you  shall  bestow  it ; 
Shall  not  miss  it,  shall  not  slight  it, 
Shall  not  carelessly  forget  it ; 
Y^hile  I  sing  it  you  shall  listen, 
While  you  listen  I  shall  sing  it ; 
You  shall  wait  for  it  no  longer, 
Shall  no  longer  live  without  it ; 


8  THE   SONG   OF    HIGHER-WATER. 

You  shall  hear  it,  you  shall  know  it, 
Hear  this  song  of  Higher-water ; 
Who  hath  ears  to  hear,  shall  hear  it, 
Though  not  all  shall  comprehend  it. 

In  the  city  that  I  speak  of, 
For  its  wine  and  swine  respected, 
For  its  lovely  ladies  noted — 
Where,  since  art  is  young  and  artless, 
Beauty's  line's  a  twisted  pig-tail ; — 
On  the  landing  where  the  steamboats 
Stop  for  spare-ribs  and  for  whisky ; 
On  this  landing,  broad  and  spacious, 
Stands  a  block  of  ancient  buildings, 
Buildings  long  to  fame  familiar ; 
Buildings  wholly  dedicated, 
Dedicated,  let  me  tell  you, 
Wholly  unto  love,  believe  me, 
Love  and  sausages,  entirely  ; 
Drake  could  tell  you  all  about  it, 
Drake,  great  Drake,  great  Alexander, 
He  could  sing  it,  he  could  tell  it, 
Tell  you  sweetly  all  about  it. 
I,  with  that  must  not  detain  you, 
Hastening,  rather,  to  conduct  you, 
O  confiding,  trustful  reader, 
To  the  basement  of  the  building, 


THE   SONG   OF  HIGHEK-WATEK. 

To  the  basement,  dark  and  dismal, 
To  the  vaults  and  caves  beneath  it ; 
To  the  hob-o-nobs,  the  rat-holes, 
Where  is  found  the  hidden  mansions, 
Hidden  cunningly  and  shrewdly, 
Past  all  human  search  or  brutal, 
Mansions  snug,  and  warm,  and  ample, 
Of  the  terrible,  the  fearful, 
The  indomitable  Scag-rag ; 
Scag-rag,  dreadful  king  of  wharf -rats. 

There  Fitz-ou-me-ou,  the  tom-cat, 
Nor  Ta-bi-a-tha,  the  noiseless, 
Neither  Snar-ley-ou,  the  dog-fiend, 
Nor  the  terrier,  Fiz-zeg-iz-zy, 
Could,  with  all  their  craft  and  cunning, 
All  their  snuffing,  all  their  nosing, 
All  their  creeping,  all  their  prying, 
All  their  digging,  all  their  scratching, — 
Find  the  passage  to  the  entrance, 
Find  the  entrance  to  the  passage, 
That  would  lead  them  to  the  chambers 
Of  the  grand  and  grisly  Scag-rag ; 
Scag-rag,  fearful  king  of  wharf-rats, 
Huge  and  whiskered  kiag  of  big  rats. 

Would  you  know  what  sort  of  mansion 


10  THE    SONG-   O.V   HIGHER-WATER. 

Had  his  majesty  Norwegian '? 
Shall  I  tell  you  of  its  arches, 
Of  its  spacious  halls  and  chambers, 
Of  its  galleries  and  columns  ? 
How  its  floors  are  all  Mosaic, 
Strange  and  curious  Mosaic, 
Ancient  shells,  and  ancient  corals, 
Trilobites  and  brachiapodas, 
Horns  of  Jupiter,  and  blossoms 
Of  the  beautiful  stone-lily  ; 
Intermixed  with  starry  chrystals, 
Golden  pyrites  and  augite  ? 
Shall  I  tell  of  lustrous  pendants, 
Stalactites  of  lime  and  gypsum, 
From  the  sparkling  ceiling  hanging  ? 
How  they  corruscate  and  glitter, 
How  they  shine  and  how  they  twinkle 
In  the  soft  illumination 
Of  the  can  die-ends  and  stearine, 
Stolen  bits  of  lard  and  tallow, 
There  beneath  that  ancient  building, 
Burning  daily,  burning  nightly, 
Burning  soft  in  cups  of  gypsum, 
"With  subdued  and  mild  effulgence, 
Mild  and  uniform  as  moonshine  ? 

You  have  heard  it,  I  have  told  it, 


THE   SONG  OF  HIGHER-WATEK.  11 

I  have  told  it  as  I  heard  it ; 
See  it,  madam  ?  no,  you  never, 
Will,  I  think,  for  reasons  weighty. 
How  I  heard  it  ?     Curious  reader, 
Twas  a  little  chirping  cricket, 
Chirping  softly  on  my  hearthstone, 
Chirping  sweetly  through  the  summer, 
Cheerful,  merry-hearted  chirper, 
Told  me  one  night  all  about  it ; 
Bade  me  mention  it  to  no  one 
Save  to  you,  and  just  one  other. 
Now  you  know  as  much  as  I  do 
Of  the  chambers  of  the  wharf-rats, 
'Neath  the  building  on  the  landing, 
In  the  love  and  sausage  quarter, 
And  we'll  go  on  with  the  story; 
Go  on  briskly  with  the  story. 

in. 

In  his  boudoir,  dull  and  dozy, 
Nodding  dreamily  in  silence, 
Sat  the  sleepy  king  of  big  rats. 
In  his  head,  that  bobbed  serenely, 
With  his  sinoking-cap  upon  it, 
Up  and  down,  in  dreamy  vagueness, 
Great  thoughts  were  revolving  vaguely  ; 
Projects  vast  of  wealth  and  plunder 


12  THE   SONG   OF   HIGHER-WATER. 

'Midst  the  wheat,  and  corn,  and  bacon, 

Lying  in  the  cribs  above  him, 

Filled  his  breast  with  honest  pleasure. 

And  not  small  the  satisfaction 

That  he  felt,  in  contemplation, 

Placid  Scag-rag,  prudent  monarch, 

Of  his  granaries  and  cupboards, 

Stuffed  and  stocked  with  rich  provision, 

Much  provision  for  the  winter  ; 

Grain  and  bacon,  cheese  and  sugar, 

Rich  provision  for  the  winter. 

Happy  ruler,  happy  Scag-rag  ; 

No  one  to  molest  his  people, 

No  one  to  disturb  his  treasures, 

Not  an  enemy  to  harm  him, 

Not  a  traitor  to  alarm  him ; 

Who  so  safe,  or  so  contented. 

Who  so  free,  so  comfortable, 

So  benignant,  so  sufficient, 

So  confiding,  or  so  happy, 

As  the  Scag-rag,  as  the  ruler 

Of  the  mighty  host  of  big  rats  ? 

Ah  !  how  every  way  delusive 
The  beguiling  dreams  we  cherish, 
In  this  vale  of  chance  and  changes  ! 


THE    SONG   OF   HIGHER-WATER.  13 

Suddenly,  O  wo  !  O  woful ! 

Suddenly  his  dreams  are  shattered  ; 

Scattered  are  the  peaceful  visions 

Of  the  monarch  of  the  rodents. 

Leaps  into  the  presence  wildly, 

Tail  erect  and  eyeballs  glaring, 

Pale  and  panting,  shrinking,  shivering, 

Wildly  leaps  into  the  presence, 

Scag-rag's  little  frighted  daughter  ;— 

"  Bouse  thee,  father  !     Father,  rouse  thee  ! " 

Thus  she  cried,  in  tones  hysteric— 

"  Father,  fly,  for  he  is  coming !" 

"Who  is  coming?"  thus  the  Scag-rag  ; 

"  Who  is  coming  ?     Who,  thou  pale  one  ? 

Dost  thou  hear  me  ?     Answer,  maiden  ! 

Who  !"— "  Why  papa"—"  Who  !"— "  Yes,  papa," 

"  Who,  I  tell  thee  !"— "  Higher-water !" 

Up  then  jumped  Scag-rag,  the  big  rat, 
From  his  throne  jumped  down  in  fury  ; 
Leaped  upon  his  nimble  hind-legs, 
Said  a  word  profane  and  haughty, 
And  strode  up  to  Mi-mi-na-ni, 
His  young  daughter,  Mi-mi-na-ni, 
Shivering  there,  in  pallid  terror, — 
With  his  forepaw,  quick  and  angry, 
Spanked  her  roundly  ;  yes,  believe  me, 


14  THE    SONG   OF   HIGHER-WATER. 

In  his  anger  spanked  her  smartly. 

Ah  !  that  passion  should  provoke  us 

Thus  to  do  the  thing  we  should  not ! 

Not  a  word  said  Mi-mi-na-ni, 

Timid,  trembling,  Mi-mi-na-ni, 

But  into  a  corner,  weeping, 

Slunk  away,  abashed  and  weeping. 

"Cease!"  'twas  thus  went  on  the  Scag-rag- 

"  Cease  your  miserable  prating  ! 

Let  no  cringing,  whining,  rattling 

Talk  to  me  of  fear  and  running, 

Talk  to  me  in  childish  terror 

Of  the  paltry  Higher-water ! 

Hark  ye,  Miss,  what  now,  I  pray  thee, 

Knowest  thou  of  Higher-water  ?" 

"  Nothing  much,  sir,  only  I  have 
Sometimes  heard  my  mother  tell,  sir, 

Frightful  stories  of  his  doings." 

"  Ah  !  you  have — aha  !  is  that  it ! 

That,  indeed  ;  but  what,  pray  tell  me, 

Puts  him  now  into  your  noddle  V" 

"  In  the  store,  sir,  up  above  us, 

As  I  sat  beneath  the  counter, 

Kind-a-doing  nothing,  only 

Nibbling  at  a  box  of  raisins. 

One  said,  talking  to  another — 

Talking  rather  thick  and  muddy — 


THE    SONG    OF    HIGHER-WATER. 

'Faith,  I'm  thinking  Higher- wather's 
Coming  down  upon  us,  Jimmy, 
Coming  sure  enough,  by  jabers  ;' 
And  I  thought  I'd  let  you  know,  sir." 
"  Fiddle-faddle,  Yankee  Doodle  !" 
Thus  the  Scag-rag  WHS  affected 
By  his  timid  daughter's  tidings  ; 
"  Fiddle-faddle,  let  the  cowards 
Show  their"      —Here  his  idle  jargon 
Was  cut  short  by  one  who  entered, 
Entered  firmly,  bowing  lowly, 
Said  in  accents  quite  emphatic, 
"  Sire,  above  it  is  reported  "- 
Scag-rag  heard  no  more  ;  no  further 
Listened  to  the  herald's  story  ; 
Left  him  there,  and  to  the  house-top, 
To  the  top  of  hotel  sausage, 
Ran  as  fast  as  ever  rat  did. 

What  he  saw  must  be  omitted  ; 
'Tis  enough,  he  soon  descended ; 
Eaging,  rushed  upon  the  landing, 
Tossed  his  cap  in  wild  defiance, 
Cried  aloud  in  hostile  valor, 
Filled  with  daring,  filled  with  courage, 
All  his  monarch  nature  bubbling, 
Bubbling  in  his  bosom  proudly  ; 


16  THE    SONG   OF    HIGHER-WATER, 

On  a  whisky  barrel  mounted, 
With  his  form  erect  and  lofty, 
While  the  billows  broke  around  him, 
While  the  waters  dashed  below  him, 
While  the  buzzard  screamed  above  him, 
While  the  darkness  deepened  o'er  him, 
And  the  winds  his  gray  locks  scattered, — 
Cried  aloud  in  key  terrific, 
Bravely  cried  in  tones  majestic, — 

"  Ho !  thou  swaggering-  Higher-water  ! 
Ho  !  thou  sloppy,  swashy  swell-head  ! 
Driveling,  water-gruel  fiunkey ! 
Shallow  fish-slop,  squirting  bully  ! 
Ho  !  thou  slimpy,  dribbling  milk-sop  ! 
Do  I  see  thee,  do  I  know  thee  ? 
Do  I  shun  thee,  do  I  fear  thee  ? 
Comest  thou  to  jest  and  drivel, 
To  affright  us,  to  o'erwhelm  us 
With  your  wishy-washy  puddle  ? 
Sneaking,  sniveling  marauder, 
Muddle-headed  fillibuster, 
Think  you  that  the  race  of  Scag-rag 
Can  be  terrified  by  humbugs  ? 
We  await  thee,  we  defy  thee, 
Do  not  dread  thee,  do  not  flee  thee, 
PO  not  fear  to  meet  or  fight  thee  ; 


THE   SONG   OF  HIGHER- WATER.  17 

Show  us  now  thy  biggest  figure, 
Puling,  water-gruel  swell-head!" 

IV. 

Be  not  weary  and  I'll  tell  you, 
Tell  you  if  you  are  not  weary, 
Of  the  mighty  Higher-water ; 
Higher-water,  swelling  proudly, 
Proudly  swelling  down  the  valley. 
On  the  white  wave  he  descended, 
On  O-wah-te-paw  the  white  wave. 
"With  him  came  the  whirling  eddies ; 
Came  with  him  Ker-chunk  the  big  stump ; 
Came  the  rolling  logs  O-wah-sis  ; 
Came  the  snags  the  Jag-ger-nag-gers ; 
Came  Sca-wot-che-te  the  drift  wood ; 
Came  Ka-ric-ke-ty  the  fence  rails  ; 
Came  the  corn-stalks,  came  the  bark-wood ; 
Came  a  pitching  mass  of  plunder, 
Crooked  roots,  and  branches  scraggy, 
Bean  poles,  splinters,  hoops  and  barrels, 
Hen-coops,  empty  troughs  and  stubble, 
Big  sticks,  little  sticks,  and  shavings ; 
Swimming,  driving,  butting,  pitching, 
Rolling,  piling,  thumping,  smashing, 
Heaving,  tumbling,  spinning,  crashing, 
Hither,  thither,  this  side,  that  side — 


18  THE  SONG  OF  HIGHER-WATER. 

What  confusion,  what  a  tumult, 
What  a  roaring,  what  a  surging, 
"What  a  mighty  rush  of  waters, 
What  an  army  of  destruction, 
Coming  down  in  wrath  and  fury, 
Coming  down  the  handsome  river, 
Coming  down  with  Higher-water, 
Filled  with  raging,  mad  with  fury, 
Rushing  down  to  fight  the  big  rats ; 
To  o'erwhelm  the  skulking  wharf-rats 
In  an  all-destroying  deluge. 

On  the  mid-most,  top-most  billow, 
On  the  wave  that  surged  the  highest, 
On  O-wah-te-paw,  the  White-Wave, 
Seated  on  a  bridled  Cat-fish, 
On  Soc-dol-o-ger,  the  Cat-fish, 
Bode,  with  bearing  majesterial, 
Fearful,  unrelenting  brigand, 
Bode  the  lofty  Higher-water  ; 
Just  behind  him  with  the  baggage, 
Swam  Mik-nok,  the  snapping-turtle, 
Swam  behind  him  with  the  baggage, 
Mik-nok,  prince  of  snapping-turtles. 
Thus  he  came,  was  thus  attended, 
He,  the  ruthless  Higher-water, 
Sweeping  down  the  handsome  river. 


THE   SONG   OF   HIGHER-WATER.  19 

Fled  the  minks,  and  fled  the  musk-rats, 
Fled  the  craw-fish  in  their  terror, 
Fled  the  otters,  fled  the  beavers, 
Fled  the  snakes,  and  fled  the  field-mice  ; 
All  was  flight,  and  haste,  and  panic, 
As  the  gathering  force  swept  onward ; 
Not  a  creature  stayed  or  lingered, 
Not  a  stump  could  keep  its  footing, 
Not  a  plank  of  any  platform 
Could  maintain  its  loose  position  ; 
Every  thing  was  put  in  motion, 
As  the  flood  poured  down  the  valley. 

"Fly,  thou  sniveling,  grisly  squealer!" 
Thus  replied  my  Higher-water, 
Fiercely,  to  the  haughty  Scag-rag  ; 
"  Fly!  take  in  thy  tail,  and  scatter ! 
I  will  wash  thee,  I  will  drown  thee, 
Drown  thee  like  a  mewing  kitten ; 
Drown  thee,  pitiful  corn-stealer, 
Drown  thee  dead  in  thy  own  cellar ; 
Prowling  pick-thief,  sneaking  beggar, 
Paltry,  squeaking  intermeddler, 
Greasy  vagabond.  I'll  wash  thee, 
Drive  thee  from  thy  filthy  kennels, 
Thee  and  thy  whole  race  of  vagrants. 
Fly,  I  say,  infatuate  pigmy ! 


20  THE   SONG  'OF  HIGHER-WATER. 

Fly,  or  infamously  perish  ! 

"Would  you  rather  stand  and  banter, 

Would  you  rather  stand  and  bluster, 

Would  you  rather  fight  and  perish  ? 

Then  bring  forth  your  mob  and  try  me  ; 

Hither  bring  them  now  and  try  me : 

Black  rats,  grey  rats,  wharf-rats,  musk-rats, 

Skunks  and  ground-hogs,  shrews  and  pole-cats, 

Hither  bring  your  ragamuffins; 

Bring  them  forth  from  sewer  and  cellar, 

Ditch  and  gutter,  wharf  and  mud-hole, 

Bring  them  hither  now  and  try  me  ; 

Let  them  meet  me,  let  them  fight  me  ; 

Let  them  back  your  giddy  gabble, 

Let  them  prove  your  lying  twaddle  ! 

Jam  feu  !  mm  Oldoensis  /" 

"Ho!"  said  Scag-rag,  mildly  musing; 
So  this  valiant  speech  had  calmed  him — 
"  Hi !"  said  Scag-rag,  deeply  pondering  ; 
"  I  will  show  this  frothy  beauty, 
This  high  strung,  ill-mannered  braggart, 
Show  him  something,  I  am  thinking, 
Something  will,  I  think,  surprise  him  ; 
Teach  him  something  that  he  knows  not, 
Something  will  surprise  him  vastly  ; 
Will  astound  him,  will  confound  him, 


THE   SONG   OF  HIGHER-WATER.  21 

Will,  I  think,  astound  him  vastly  ; 
We  shall  see  ;  Yes,  yes — I  smell  a — 
Bat,  he  might  have  said,  but  didn't ; 
Lashed  his  tail  and  down  he  scampered, 
In  his  soul  profoundly  musing. 

Not  to  gather  up  the  forces 
Named  in  scorn  by  Higher-water  ; 
Not  to  rouse  his  ranks  to  battle  ; 
No,  not  that ;  Oh,  no,  great  Scag-rag 
Was  too  wise  for  that,  believe  me ; 
You  shall  see,  sublimest  Scag-rag 
Was  too  deep  for  that,  believe  me. 


v. 

In  a  secret,  quiet  recess 

Of  the  subterranean  palace 

Of  the  most  sagacious  Scag-rag, 

Scag-rag,  prudent  king  of  wharf-rats, — 

There  you'll  find,  if  once  you  get  there, 

Find  the  secret  court  and  chapel 

Of  the  priests  of  Bam-ba-loo-za  ; 

Bam-ba-loo-za,  great  forerunner, 

Ancient  founder,  of  the  empire 

Of  the  universal  big  rats. 


22  THE   SONG   OF  HIGHER-WATER. 

There  the  priests,  discreet  and  holy, 
Bound  about  the  altar,  daily, 
Walk  and  chant  their  incantations, 
Clad  in  robes  of  milky  whiteness ; 
Chant  their  charms  and  divinations 
Kound  about  the  altar  daily  ; 
While  the  snowy  inflorescence 
Of  the  pure  and  feathery  gypsum 
Glitters  on  the  roof  above  them, 
In  the  light  that  gloweth  ever, 
With  a  pale  and  tranquil  beauty ; 
In  the  silence,  hushed  and  solemn, 
Of  that  dark,  secluded  chapel, 
Glowing  steadily,  forever. 

Twenty  priests  in  slow  procession 
Make  the  never-ending  circuit 
Of  the  sacred  altar,  daily  ; 
There,  too,  in  a  distant  alcove, 
One  bright  beam  upon  them  shining, 
Making  deep  and  living  shadows, 
Sat,  with  folded  arms,  three  others, 
Three  pre-eminently  holy, 
Who,  for  service  long  and  faithful, 
Had  received  the  gift  of  power  ; 
Power  of  action  and  of  suffering, 
Power  of  duty  and  of  triumph, 


THE   SONG  OF  HIGHER-WATER.  23 

Power  resistless  and  unyielding  ; 
Gift  supreme,  supreme  endowment 
Of  the  ancient  Bam-ba-loo-za, 
To  the  wisest  and  the  truest, 
To  the  purest  of  his  children  ; 
Grand  arch-nibblers,  sacerdotal 
Mumbo-jumbic  mopes  and  dreamers. 

Silent  sat  the  chosen  trio, 

Full  of  patience  and  devotion, 

Full  of  peace  and  resignation, 

Waiting  for  the  day  of  trial, 

For  the  hour  of  fear  and  peril, 

When  their  people,  when  their  brethren, 

When  the  land  of  their  affection, 

Should  demand  the  intervention 

Of  their  energetic  functions, 

Of  their  wonderful  endowments ; 

Should  arouse  them,  should  command  them, 

From  their  solitude  should  call  them, 

Calling  for  their  aid  and  succor. 

Waiting  thus,  but  scarce  expecting 
Quite  so  sudden  to  be  summoned, 
There  the  wrathful  Scag-rag  found  them ; 
Peeped  into  the  door  and  called  them  ; 
Called  them  with  a  voice  commanding, 


24  THE   SONG   OF   HIGHER-WATER.  , 

Firm  with  strong  imperial  passion ; 

Told  them  of  their  country's  peril, 

Bade  them  hasten  to  the  rescue  ; 

Not  a  moment  stop  to  parley, 

Not  a  moment  stop  to  ponder, 

Not  a  question,  not  an  answer, 

Only  understand,  and  follow  ; 

He  would  lead  them,  he  would  guide  them, 

He  would  show  the  way  of  duty, 

He  would  point  the  path  of  glory, 

'Twas  for  them  to  hear  and  follow. 

Up  then  got  those  holy  hermits, 

Not  a  moment  stopped  to  parley, 

Not  a  moment  stopped  to  ponder, 

But  their  monarch  followed,  straightway, 

To  the  glorious  field  of  duty. 

VI. 

Still  descending,  higher,  nearer, 
Swelled  and  hastened  Higher-water  ; 
Coming  down  with  haste  and  fury, 
On  the  city  swift  advancing, 
Threatening  havoc,  threatening  ruin, 
Waste  and  havoc,  sack  and  ruin, 
To  the  city  standing  queenly 
On  the  bank  of  O-pe-he-le. 
Ah !  Alas ! — what  surging  peril, 


THE   SONG   OF   HIGHER-WATER.  25 

Swift  as  ocean's  breaking  billows, 
Sweeps,  with  wreck  and  gloom  portentous, 
On  that  unoffending  people  : 
People  kind  and  hospitable  ! 

"  Shall  it  be  so— shall  he  do  it! 
Shall  he  bring  this  devastation 
On  the  city  of  my  people, 
On  the  people  of  my  city  ?" 
Said  the  noble-minded  Scag-rag, 
Speaking  nobly  with  his  heart  full ; 
"  Shall  this  pompous  knavish  brigand, 
Bring  his  filthy  puddle  hither 
O'er  the  helpless  town  to  pour  it  ? 
Driving  us  to  double  danger, 
Cats  and  brick-bats  on  the  land  side, 
On  the  river  side,  destruction 
From  the  drowning  flood  of  waters  ? 
Oh!  forbid  it,  Bam-ba-loo-za  ! 
Men  of  mighty  gifts,  forbid  it ; 
Yours  the  power  is,  yours  the  duty, 
You  alone  the  land  can  rescue 
From  this  imminent  disaster  ;    . 
See,  the  path  of  glory  opens, 
Leading  up  to  your  hereafter  ; 
All  unknown  in  that  fair  region 
Phosph'rous,  arsenic  or  strychnine  ; 


26  THE   SONG   OF   HIGHER- WATER. 

There  the  tit-bits  are  not  fatal, 
There  no  cats  or  traps  shall  fright  you, 
There  no  terriers  shall  pursue  you, 
There  no  treachery  betray  you ; 
There  the  cheese  is  never  toasted, 
There  the  holes  are  never  washed  out ; 
This  the  land  is  that  awaits  you  ; 
Be  unflinching  in  your  duty, 
And  to  you  the  gates  celestial 
Shall,  like  pantry  doors,  be  opened, 
And  the  hand  of  Bam-ba-loo-za 
Shah1  receive  you,  shall  conduct  you 
To  the  good  things  there  provided." 

Ah !  my  children !  ah  !  my  readers  ! 
Could  you  but  have  seen  and  heard  him, 
Heard  the  patriotic  Scag-rag 
Thus  harangue  those  sturdy  martyrs, 
Thus  encourage,  thus  assure  them, 
Would  you,  could  you — think,  I  pray  you- 
You  whose  hearts  are  kind  and  gentle, 
Could  you  e'er  again  have  pelted 
His  ill-treated  race  with  brick-bats  ? 

VII. 

You  shall  hear  the  strange  conclusion 
Of  this  most  surprising  story. 


THE   SONG  OF  HIGHER-WATER.  27 

See,  upon  the  waters  swimming, 
Swimming  boldly  on  the  waters, 
By  their  steady  tails  directed, 
Straight  as  goes  a  line  of  railroad, 
Tow'rd  the  middle  of  the  river 
Go  the  holy  three  together  ; 
Side  by  side  together  swimming, 
Firm  in  faith  and  strong  in  courage, 
Never  wavering,  never  doubting, 
Never  questioning  or  pausing, 
To  the  middle  of  the  river 
Onward  move  these  three  together. 

There  they  took  a  moment's  breathing, 

Paused  in  lofty  resignation, 

Self-confiding,  fear  disdaining, 

Swam  around  in  solemn  circles, 

Softly  chanting  midst  the  waters, 

Three  times  round  in  narrowing  circles — 

Then,  together  upward  leaping, 

Turned,  and  downward  pitching  head-first, 

With  their  tails  unto  the  zenith, 

And  their  noses  to  the  water, 

Plunged  head-first  into  the  river — 

Down  head-foremost  to  the  bottom, 

Plunged  with  firm  and  swift  precision. 

Like  a  spark  from  Daniel's  battery, 


28  THE   SONG   OF   HIGHEK-WATER. 

Like  a  word  from  Morse's  magnet, 
Like  a  hail  stone  from  a  storm-cloud, 
Down  they  went  unto  the  bottom  ; 
Never  stopping,  never  turning, 
To  the  bottom,  straight  and  steady, 
They  fraternally  descended ; 
Down  head-foremost  to  the  bottom  ; 
E-la,  Zo-ni,  and  the  gentle 
Ma-ma-na-na,  only  these  three  ; 
Only  these  three,  and  none  other, 
To  the  bottom  of  the  river 
Plunged  incontinently  head-first. 

But  observe  me,  there  they  stayed  not, 
Stayed  there  not  at  all,  I  tell  you  ; 
Cracked  the  bottom  with  their  strong  heads, 
With  their  hard  heads,  stout  and  solid, 
Knocked  a  piece  out,  knocked  a  hole  in, 
And  went  through  without  a  scratch,  sir, 
To  the  Kingdom  of  the  good  rats, 
To  the  land  of  Bam-ba-loo-za. 

vm. 

Like  the  water  through  a  tunnel, 
Like  the  water  from  a  bottle, 
Like  the  water  down  a  tin  spout, 


THE   SONG   OF   HIGHER-WATER.  29 

Whirling  in  a  mighty  whirlpool, 
Whirling,  bubbling,  gurgling,  spinning, 
Through  the  opening  swiftly  sinking, 
Hushed  the  waters  of  the  river, 
Of  the  swelling  O-pe-he-le. 
They,  perhaps,  had  gone  entirely 
Through  the  crevice,  but  for  one  thing — 
But  for  one  big  stump  that  entered 
And  plugged  up  the  hole  completely. 

But  the  saucy  Higher-water  ? 
But  the  bragging  Higher-water  ? 
Ah  !  the  Scag-rag  had  surprised  him, 
Had  astonished  and  amazed  him, 
Had,  I  think,  surprised  him  vastly ; 
And  Soc-dol-o-ger,  the  cat-fish, 
With  the  knave  upon  his  shoulder, 
Turned  about  and  fled  to  Pittsburgh  ; 
Fallen,  foolish,  Higher-water ! 
Home  retreated  in  confusion, 
Ignominious  Higher-water. 

Was  there  dancing,  was  there  feasting, 
Was  there  music  and  rejoicing, 
In  the  mansion  of  the  wharf-rats, 
That  night,  in  the  house  of  Scag-rag  ? 
Did  the  Scag-rag,  joyful  monarch, 


30  THE    SONG   OF   HIGHER- WATER. 

Leap  and  caper,  romping  gallant, 
Seize  the  prettiest  and  the  plumpest 
Of  the  fair  and  soft-haired  daughters 
Of  his  loved  and  rescued  people — 
Dash  into  the  giddy  circle, 
Whirl  and  waltz,  and  skip  and  frisk  it, 
Gayest  rogue  of  all  the  party  ? 

'Twas  the  chuckling,  and  the  laughing 
Of  the  merry-hearted  cricket, 
Chirping  gaily  on  the  hearth-stone, 
Laughing  at  the  recollection 
Of  the  frollicking  he  saw  there — 
This  it  was  that  made  me  listen 
To  the  story  he  was  singing, 
To  the  tale  I  have  been  telling. 


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